Cite this paper:
GUO Xiaoyi, XU Bochao, YU Zhigang, LI Xiuqin, NAN Haiming, JIAN Huimin, JIANG Xueyan, DIAO Shaobo, GAO Maosheng. Radium isotopes assess water mixing processes and its application in the Zhujiang River estuary[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2017, 35(5): 1108-1116

Radium isotopes assess water mixing processes and its application in the Zhujiang River estuary

GUO Xiaoyi1,2,3, XU Bochao1,2,3, YU Zhigang1,2,3, LI Xiuqin4, NAN Haiming3, JIAN Huimin1, JIANG Xueyan1,2,3, DIAO Shaobo5, GAO Maosheng5
1 Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;
2 Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China;
3 College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;
4 South China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, China;
5 Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266071, China
Abstract:
Radium (Ra) isotopes are useful for tracing water mass transport and examining estuarine hydrological dynamics. In this study, several hydrological parameters, nutrients, chlorophyll-a (chl-a), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and Ra isotopes (223Ra, 224Ra and 226Ra) of surface waters of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River estuary (ZRE) were measured. This was done for both winter (December) and summer (July) seasons, to quantitatively understand the seasonal characteristics of river plume flow rate and trajectories, as well as the ecological response. The results show that Ra concentrations in summer were higher than in winter, especially 224Ra (about 2-5 times higher). The spatial distribution of three Ra isotopes and relative Ra water ages indicated that river water mainly flushed out of ZRE through the western side in winter, where the water transport was about 5 days faster than in the eastern zone. In summer, diluted river water expended to the east side, resulting in fairly similar water ages for both sides of the river mouth. Although nutrients were higher during the summer season, lower chl-a concentrations indicated that reduced primary production might be caused by high SPM (low light penetration). The results obtained from this study will provide knowledge needed for effectively developing and managing the ZRE.
Key words:    marine polysaccharide|microcrystalline wax|double-coating|controlled-release|water-soluble fertilize   
Received: 2016-03-10   Revised: 2016-04-22
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Articles by GUO Xiaoyi
Articles by XU Bochao
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